If you’ve been carrying a Jaywan card around and wondering where you can actually use it beyond grocery runs and coffee shops, here’s a big one: Etihad Airways has just become the first airline in the UAE to accept Jaywan for flight bookings. From now on, when you head to etihad.com to book a trip, you’ll see Jaywan sitting right there at checkout alongside the usual card options. Select it, pay, and you’re done. No third-party apps, no redirects, just a straightforward booking on the airline’s own website. And this isn’t limited to a handful of routes either; the option works across Etihad’s entire network.
Etihad Airways Now Lets You Book Flights With Your Jaywan Card
Etihad is the first airline to accept Jaywan payments.
Guests based in the UAE can now use Jaywan to book flights across Etihad’s full route network on https://t.co/6nj77WJUDZ.
Comfort and Deluxe fare discounts and priority access benefits for Jaywan Royal cardholders are… pic.twitter.com/P8qIdxTeDU
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) August 19, 2026
Royal Cardholders Have Even More To Look Forward To
If you hold a Jaywan Royal card, pay attention, because Etihad says the real perks are still coming. The airline has confirmed Royal cardholders will soon get exclusive discounts on Comfort and Deluxe fares, plus priority access benefits, the kind of loyalty extras usually reserved for elite frequent flyers. No exact rollout date yet, so keep an eye on your Etihad Guest account if you’re a Royal cardholder. Mark Potter, Managing Director of Etihad Guest, has described this as just the first step in a broader partnership with Al Etihad Payments, with more Jaywan-linked travel perks expected down the line.
Why This Matters For UAE Travellers
This didn’t come out of nowhere. Etihad and Al Etihad Payments signed a Memorandum of Understanding back in October 2025 to explore exactly this kind of collaboration, and it’s now paying off. Jaywan itself launched in July 2026 as the UAE’s first domestic card scheme, run by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, and banks across the country have been steadily rolling it out to residents since. Andrea Cianchetti, Chief Products Officer at Al Etihad Payments, has pointed to the Etihad tie-up as adding real, everyday value to the card, closer to a genuine loyalty proposition than just another payment method. For UAE residents who’ve already switched to Jaywan, it’s one more reason to keep using it.
Also Read: Etihad Airways Discount On Fares to 45+ Destinations To Rise In GCC Population; 5 GCC Updates
It’s Not Just Etihad, Jaywan Is Popping Up Everywhere
The Etihad tie-up is actually part of a much bigger push. Jaywan acceptance is now expanding across malls, hotels and online shopping too, with over 200 Majid Al Futtaim destinations — think retail, leisure, hotels and entertainment — now taking the card. Payment providers Network International and Telr have also plugged Jaywan into their e-commerce gateways, so you can use it across thousands of online merchants in the UAE, not just in person. Add in the UnionPay partnership letting Jaywan cards work across 183 countries, and it’s clear this isn’t just a niche airline perk — it’s shaping up to be a genuine everyday card, from your flight booking to your weekend mall run.
Cover Image Courtesy: Al Etihad Payments/Website, Etihad Airways/X